Darren Gass Carlisle preview

Seventeen year-old 'A' level student Darren Gass from Markethill in
Northern Ireland will join the Super 1600 battle in his impressive new
steed on the first round of the British Rally Championship in Carlisle.
The youngster will use the same...

Seventeen year-old 'A' level student Darren Gass from Markethill in
Northern Ireland will join the Super 1600 battle in his impressive new
steed on the first round of the British Rally Championship in Carlisle.

The youngster will use the same Group A6 Fiesta in which he took a fine
class win on Rally Ireland in March and in which he holds third in class
in the Irish series. Darren is the youngest registered driver in the
British Rally Championship, but unfazed by the task ahead, he has pinched
the reigning Production category co-driver for his first outing on
gravel.

Neil Shanks is no stranger to the series and sat with Darren on the
Circuit of Ireland in April. "He is very confident for someone of his
age," commented Neil, "but when you look at the cars he's driven and
co-driven it's no surprise." It will be strange competing against
Barry (Clark) after last year, but it won't stop us from trying our
hardest."

Darren's regular successful outings in a similar powered Rallycross Saxo
Kit car gave him an excellent grounding in front wheel drive. He also
contested five rallies in 2005, including finishing second in class on
the Ulster International Rally and a very impressive ninth overall on the
Galloway Hills Rally on his debut in a four wheel drive car, all after
turning seventeen in late June.

Crozier Motorsport will look after the car this year, with the guidance
of two M-Sport technicians, who will attend each rally with the necessary
spares. The team tested with M-Sport at the Sweetlamb forestry complex in
late April, driving Barry Clark's similar Fiesta to fine-tune the
settings. "Roman Kresta had done most of the set-up work beforehand,"
explained Darren, "so it was more of a chance to feel how the car
behaves on the loose. I don't expect to be on the pace of those guys
straight away, as I'm not even sure whether to make my own pace-notes
yet!"

The first round of the new-look British series is based in Carlisle and
after a city centre start early on Saturday, the stages are mainly in the
infamous Kielder Forest complex. The service area at Carlisle Airport to
the east of the city will be the hub of activity on Saturday and Sunday,
with the spectator special stage at nearby Newby Grange. A total of 115
miles of fast gravel tracks await the crews who will all be looking
forward to a fierce battle and the finish in Carlisle on Sunday
afternoon.